Suggestions for Green Living
The information provided here will help you find pathways to sustainable living. If you find other resources, please pass them along to us. |
GARDENING
Free gardening classes are offered at El Corazon Compost Facility, 3210 Oceanside Blvd, Oceanside, on the third Saturday of every month, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Learn how to garden and grow food in your back yard. The classes are taught by Master Gardeners Diane Hollister and Pete Ash. Call 800-262-4167, ext. 4 to reserve a space.
Learn about composting and vermiculture (worm composting) at the Solana Center. Free classes! Turn your kitchen waste into "black gold" for your garden.
See the Events page for info on the field trip to the Cuyamaca College Water Saving Garden on Saturday, March 14.
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 ENERGY
What is a carbon footprint ?
A Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide. Click for a list of steps you can take
to reduce your carbon footprint. Compiled by StopGlobalWarming.
Simple Ways to Save Energy Here are 14 easy ways to save energy around your home, from California Interfaith Power and Light, whose mission is to be faithful stewards of Creation by responding to global warming through the promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy. This ministry intends to protect the earth's ecosystems, safeguard public health, and ensure sufficient, sustainable energy for all.
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TRANSPORTATION
EcoDriving USA
Simple Solutions to Increase Mileage and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint. Believe it or not, you may already have much of what you need to save money at the gas pump. And you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions at the same time. It's as easy as subtly changing your driving habits and adjusting your maintenance techniques. "EcoDriving" provides easy tips for getting the most mileage out of your vehicle. And because burning gasoline produces carbon dioxide, saving fuel helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions - which helps address climate change.
Public Transportation
Did you know that one of the easiest ways to get to San Diego Airport is by Coaster and bus? You can park without charge at a Coaster station, ride in comfort without traffic delays to the Santa Fe Depot, cross the street and take a 15-minute bus ride directly to the airport. And the price is right, too - $6.00 each way for adults, $3 for seniors (your Coaster ticket is your transfer for the bus). Coaster service is limited, so check the schedule before making your reservations. Amtrak service (also from the Santa Fe Depot) runs daily; the cost is about double the Coaster ticket price, but still a great deal compared to a limo or long-term parking. You can also take the bus and Coaster to Charger and Padres games!
Breeze Buses - North County bus service, with connections to Coaster and Sprinter service
Coaster - rail service between Oceanside and San Diego Santa Fe Depot
Sprinter - rail service between Oceanside and Escondido Transit Centers
Amtrak - national rail service
from San Diego (Santa Fe Depot), stopping at Solana Beach and Oceanside
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 FOOD
Make Choices for Healthy Oceans You Have the Power. Your consumer choices make a difference. Buy seafood from this handy wallet card from Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Environmental Defense Fund to support those fisheries and fish farms that are healthier for ocean wildlife and the environment. Visit www.seafoodwatch.org |
Organic Essentials Pocket Guide for Reducing Pesticide Dietary Exposure
This pocket guide from the Organic Center lists both domestic and imported fruits and vegetables that pose the greatest risk for pesticide exposure. You don't want to miss this!
Certified Farmers' Markets
Visiting one of the Farmers' Markets in San Diego County allows you to experience agriculture. These Farmers' Markets are certified by the State, ensuring that the produce is being sold by the grower, is grown in California and meets all California quality standards. These criteria ensure that you receive the freshest produce for the right price. From the Farm Bureau of San Diego County, which urges you to "buy local." |
 Local Farmers' Markets:
- Escondido: Tuesdays 230-6:00 (4:00-7:00 May-Sept.), Grand Ave btw Juniper and Kalmia
- Carlsbad: Wednesdays 1:00-5:00; Saturdays 9:00-1:00, Roosevelt btw Grand and Carlsbad Village Dr.
- Oceanside: Thursdays 9:00-1:00, Coast Hwy and Pier View Way;
Thursdays 5:00-9:00, Tremont and Pier View Way
- Vista: Saturdays 7:45-11:00, County Courthouse, 325 Melrose
Community Supported Agriculture
Connect your kitchen and your table with local farmers through a subscription to local produce delivered weekly to a location near you. 
Tierra Miguel Foundation Farm, Pauma Valley (760) 742-4213
Be Wise Ranch, Santa Fe Valley and San Pasqual Valley, (858) 756-3088
Seabreeze Organic Farm, Sorrento Valley (858) 481-0209
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SHOPPING
Despite advertisers' messages, you may really not need what they're selling this week. Sustainable living includes making wise purchasing decisions. Here are some thoughts to ask yourself:
- Is this purchase really necessary?
- Is it available to rent or borrow?
- Can I repair my existing item?
- Is the new item recyclable?
- Do I know how much energy and resources were used to manufacture and transport this item?
- Is it available with recycled content, or organically produced, or sold in bulk with little or now packaging?
- Was this product produced in an environmentally sustainable and socially just manner?
- Is this company one that I want to support with my dollars?
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Unshopping: Things You Should Not Buy Again
GreenAmerica (formerly Co-op-America) urges consumers to rethink a lot of daily purchases such as cosmetics, paint, plastics, wood and rayon products, and many more. Check out this list of 15 categories for more information. |
A Shopper's Guide to Home Tissue Products
Forests are being destroyed to make toilet paper, facial tissues, paper towels and other disposable paper products. You can help stop this destruction by pressing manufacturers to use recycled content and clean manufacturing processes and by making smart shopping decisions. Compiled by the National Resources Defense Council.
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LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
San Diego Food Not Lawns
San Diego Food Not Lawns is a grassroots group based in San Diego, California (USA) and focused on "cultivating an edible future" and working together to offer information, facilitate communication, and otherwise act and effect local change regarding a variety of food and land related issues. These include food security; sustainable agriculture; GE's (genetically engineered) and commercial food production; environmental and social justice; farm workers and border issues; land access; water; reducing our ecological footprint; feeding the hungry; reclaiming space; and certainly, creating local food systems. See the web site for a schedule of classes and events.
San Diego Roots
We are SAN DIEGO ROOTS Sustainable Food Project, a network of citizens, farmers, chefs, gardeners, teachers, and students working to encourage the growth and consumption of regional food. From farm to fork, we focus awareness and work toward a more ecologically sound, economically viable and socially just food system in San Diego. By eating locally, not only do you get fresher, better-tasting food, but you also help support family farms and encourage a vibrant local economy.
Slow Food San Diego
 The mission of Slow Food is to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world. Slow Food is dedicated to bio-diversity (preservation of food variety) and sustainability (meeting present needs without compromising those of future generations). Slow Food works to support the small farmer and local artisans and preserves cultural food traditions.
See the web site for a list of local restaurants that subscribe to these principles, as well as nifty educational tools and local food events. |
Building Sustainable Communities
This local non-profit organization is dedicated to assisting local governments, agencies, and organizations in building sustainable communities and raising awareness of ecological, energy, and climatic issues impacting our local communities. In partnership with local organizations, we bring educational outreach on sustainable principles, practices, and resources for relocalizing and revitalizing urban and suburban communities. A primary goal is to provide practical, proactive guidelines for local governments and agencies in their transition to sustainable methods, practices, and lifestyles. See the web site for workshops and speakers.
Preserve Calavera
The goals of Preserve Calavera are to create a regional nature preserve in Carlsbad to preserve and protect the open space around Mt. Calavera and Lake Calavera as a regional nature preserve; to promote the use of these areas by a responsible public; support education and restoration programs; minimize the adverse effects of development on this natural environment. Hikes, nature talks, and work opportunities are listed on their web site. |
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